Eight colonies of common ants were shipped to the International Space Station (ISS) in December 2014 so astronauts could study how microgravity affects the creatures.

Scientists also wanted to see if the ant colony could function properly without the usual stabilization they have on Earth.

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The results were recorded on camera and NASA wants to use this experiment as a way for children in schools to learn about space and about the different missions NASA performs.

The colonies were held in small arenas and left to roam in two separate areas. According to the researchers, the ants "explored the area less thoroughly" and "took more convoluted paths," which is likely because of the difficulties of holding onto the surface as a result of microgravity.

Nevertheless, the ants were agile when climbing surfaces and, most surprisingly, rebounded rather successfully when they slipped.

"The ants showed an impressive ability to walk on the surface in microgravity, and an even more remarkable capacity to regain their contact with the surface once they were tumbling around in the air," scientists explained.

Researchers also conducted the experiment on Earth by placing ants in a corner of the box and consecutively opening the barriers. It took the ants on Earth some five minutes to map out the whole area.

The ants that were sent to space, and thus under the effects of microgravity, were unable to cover all of the territory in the same time frame, but were able to map most of it.

The experiment is supposed to help scientists and researchers better understand the ants' movements and to determine how they really function when it comes to discovering new territory and communicating with each other.

TagsAnts in International Space Station Adapt Zero Gravity Well, Ants, NASA, ISS, zero gravity, space exploration